Thoroughly modern millennial

Tag: feminism

  • Favourite Films Directed by Women

    Favourite Films Directed by Women

    It’s awards show season!

    Once again many of this years’ nominees are looking overwhelmingly white and male. Even with Golden Globe wins this past weekend for films like Moonlight and actors like Viola Davis and Donald Glover, it’s equally important for women to be given chances to shine behind the camera as well.

    It’s high time we shone a light on some seriously talented female individuals who’ve directed movies across a huge cross-section of genres. Here’s my top 10 films

    Virgin Suicides

    Directed by: Sofia Coppola

    Based on the 1993 best selling debut novel of the same name by American author Jeffrey Eugenides, the film tells of the brief lives of five teenage sisters in a middle class suburb near the outskirts of Detroit during the 1970s. After the youngest sister makes an initial attempt at suicide, her sisters are put under close scrutiny by their parents, eventually being confined to the household, which leads to their increasingly depressive and isolated behaviour.

    13th

    Directed by: Ava Duvernay

    A 2016 American documentary by director Ava DuVernay. Centered on race in the United States criminal justice system, the film is titled after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlawed slavery (unless as punishment for a crime). DuVernay’s documentary argues that slavery is being effectively perpetuated through mass incarceration.

    Whip It

    Directed by: Drew Barrymore

    American sports comedy-drama film based on the novel Derby Girl. Tells the story of teenager from the fictional town of Bodeen, Texas, who joins an all-female roller derby team.

    Clueless

    Directed by: Amy Heckerling

    A coming-of-age comedy film loosely based on Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’. Cher, a high school student in Beverly Hills, must survive the ups and downs of adolescent life. Her external demeanor at first seems superficial, but rather it hides her wit, charm, and intelligence which help her to deal with relationships, friends, family, school, and the all-important teenage social life.

    You’ve Got Mail

    Directed by: Nora Ephron

    Two business rivals who despise each other in real life unwittingly fall in love over the Internet.

    Bend It Like Beckham

    Directed by: Gurinder Chadha

    A comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal. Set in Hounslow, West London and Hamburg, the film follows two 18 year olds with their hearts set on a future in professional soccer.

    Bridget Jones Diary

    Director by: Sharon Maguire

    Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her many imperfections. As a New Year’s Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget’s band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance who Bridget cannot seem to stop running into or help finding quietly attractive.

    Wayne’s World

    Directed by: Penelope Spheeris

    Adapted from a sketch of the same name on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, Wayne’s World is a wacky, irreverent pop-culture comedy about the adventures of two amiably aimless metal-head friends, Wayne and Garth. From Wayne’s basement, the pair broadcast a talk-show called “Wayne’s World” on local public access television. 

    The Matrix

    Directed by: Lana and Lilly Wachowski

    In the near future, a computer hacker named Neo discovers that all life on Earth may be nothing more than an elaborate facade created by a malevolent cyber-intelligence, for the purpose of placating us while our life essence is “farmed” to fuel the Matrix’s campaign of domination in the “real” world. He joins like-minded Rebel warriors Morpheus and Trinity in their struggle to overthrow the Matrix.

    American Psycho

    Directed by: Mary Harron

    A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he delves deeper into his violent, hedonistic fantasies.

    — — —

    My list is just the smallest slither of talent that’s been festering around Hollywood for decades and as you can tell the range of stories being told is incredible. In my top 10 we have ‘fluffy’ rom-coms, comedy, sci-fi, documentary, satire and thriller; we have women from both the US and UK; trans women and women of colour. You have women directing men and women telling female narratives, both serious topics and feel good tones.

    And this list doesn’t even count the women in foreign cinema particularly in South East Asia or South America, up and coming directors like Mira Nair (Queen of Katwe), So Yong Kim (Lovesong), and Amma Asante (Belle), and the hordes of independent artists online making short films for YouTube or Vimeo.

    There’s more work to be done but there’s already great advocates for women via the Geena Davis Institute and the recently launched Alice Initiative. The future seems bright for women behind the camera, I only hope Hollywood gives them the recognition one day too.

    — — —

    This was my top 10 but I’d love to hear what some of your own favourites are too. So, shout of some badass women in the comments!

    Ria Xx

  • Poetry | A Feminist Prayer For A New Year

    Poetry | A Feminist Prayer For A New Year

    I.       Write
    Tell tales of a Brave New World
    less damaged than our own
    fragmented universe
    Or else, allow us to escape
    into a tangled narrative of imagination

    II.     Fight
    Like a girl. Like a boy. Like them.
    Like you, for them
    Bite bullets with a passion so loud
    it seals your imperfect skin
    from the burn of a thousand suns

    III.   Rise
    among the voices.
    Among the trauma, the hurt,
    the gut wrenching loss
    Together we a stronger,
    but you must first feel the call
    Can you hear now?

    IV.   Rinse, clean

    And repeat.

    – R. Cagampang (5.1.17)

    — — —

    A little ditty inspired by my personal feminist work ethic for the coming year. Enjoy.

    Ria Xx

  • The Issues That Really Matter On #InternationalMensDay

    The Issues That Really Matter On #InternationalMensDay

    (Heyo! Click-baity blog post title)

    It feels disingenuous to be writing about men’s rights after my last post about the US Election. I don’t often talk about men on the blog or on social media (mainly because every time I do I get shouted at and called an idiot), but I do think it’s so important, now more than ever to engage men in discussions around gender equality.

    My main issue with days like #InternationalMensDay is that more often than not the only thing I see online is men stating that they’re oppressed. When in reality, they’re a) not telling me what they’re doing to actually help other men, b) seem to be spending the entire day venting all their anger at feminists, and c) focusing all their efforts on the rights of cis-white men.

    Just like feminism, men’s rights need to be considered intersectionally and there should be conversations around what is it like navigating the world if you’re male but not straight, cis, white, or living in the Western World.

    So, hey guys! You wanted an International Men’s Day? Well here it is. Instead of turning today into a gender war, here are just some of the issues that really matter and deserve some press:

    • The systematic mass incarceration of men of colour as highlighted in Ava Duverney’s 13th on Netflix.
    • The rights of transgender men, which still largely ignored even in the LGBTQ community – not gender specific but the Gender Trust have some amazing resources on this.
    • Toxic masculinity and its damaging effects on young boys growing up – take a gander at The Mask You Live In documentary for this one.
    • The unlawful killing and attacks on African American men by police forces in the US and around the World.
    • Male suicide rates, the lack of emphasis on male mental health and even the idea that it’s taboo for men to cry (check out the amazing work being done by CALM for this.
    • Male rape cases and the fact that physical and emotional domestic violence by women and men towards men is still seen as a punchline.
    • The fact that Asian men are still stereotyped, emasculated and are never seen as the heroes (*cough* #StarringJohnCho *cough*)
    • The lack of non-binary, gender non-conforming and femme-male in mainstream media.
    • Despite the great work being carried out by cancer charities such as Prostate Cancer UK, there’s still a lack of education and funding around male cancer research.
    • Neo-facism and the online recruitment of white me into alt-right groups, especially in the current political climate.
    • The ever present problem of racial profiling of Muslim men.
    • The ongoing stigma towards men in traditionally ‘feminine’ job roles i.e. nurses, primary school teachers, nannies etc., which is linked with ideas around toxic masculinity.
    • The women who will cut men down in the name of ‘feminism’, I hate misandry just as much as you guys do and for the most part these people don’t understand the fundamental idea behind feminism is raising women to the same level that men are at, no lowering the bar for men.

    And a final point, there’s a reason why feminist issues are consistently making the headlines nowadays. We’re even more determined than ever not to let these issues fall through the gaps. It’s a mindset that we, as women are used to as a largely oppressed group. We have always had to shout to be heard, so we shout consistently to be heard.

    Men already have a leg up. You are a largely privileged group (especially if you’re white/cis/het), so use that to your advantage. Be the advocate for the marginalised within your gender and really talk and support them. Don’t just sit on the Internet and troll feminists.

    Ria